"Lambert will get change at the top as chief resigns"

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Lambert will get change at the top as chief resigns
By Elisa Crouch
The St. Louis (MO) Post-Dispatch


Lambert Field can survive without him, and so will the $105 million plan to
renovate the Main Terminal, Airport Director Kevin Dolliole said Tuesday.

In the end, Dolliole's decision to resign as airport chief after less than
two years was based on his family needing him more, he said. His wife and
high school-age daughter still live in San Antonio - his previous home - and
didn't want to move to St. Louis. He is moving back to Texas to be with them
and will look for work once he gets there. 

"Sometimes I don't recognize when I'm imposing my will on others,
particularly a very supportive wife and a very supportive family," said
Dolliole, 51. "I recognize what their needs are . and ultimately came to
this conclusion."

At a City Hall news conference, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said he is
appointing Richard Hrabko, head of Spirit of St. Louis Airport in
Chesterfield, as Dolliole's replacement effective April 23. Hrabko, 68, was
Lambert's interim airport director for six months in 2004 and 2005, before
Dolliole took the job.

Hrabko did not apply for the job the last time. The city spent $80,000 and
more than six months looking for a new director. 

"Had (Hrabko) thrown his name in the ring, it would have been a close call
between him and Kevin," Slay said. 

On March 5, Dolliole submitted his resignation letter to the mayor's office,
citing family reasons. 

Slay spent about two weeks trying to persuade Dolliole to change his mind,
the mayor said. Dolliole had been "a breath of fresh air for St. Louis,"
Slay said. "His plan to revitalize the airport is exactly what we need."

Dolliole's resignation came as a blow to those who had counted on him to
upgrade Lambert's image, attract more air service and make the airport a
more enjoyable place for passengers. In his 23 months in St. Louis, Dolliole
oversaw completion of a $1.1 billion runway, completed long-term lease
negotiations with airlines and helped lure AirTran Airways to the St. Louis
market.

Dolliole also repaired relations between the airport and Bridgeton, damaged
from disputes over runway expansion. 

And Dolliole in February set the stage for the biggest renovation ever at
Lambert. Plans include more stores and restaurants, terrazzo floors and
pedestrian bridges from the parking garage to the Main Terminal ticketing
area, and other upgrades. This summer, airport officials plan to hire a
design and engineering firm, with the goal of finishing construction by
2012. 

"He set the table and built a very strong foundation in very tangible ways,"
said Richard Fleming, president of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth
Association. "I just wish we'd had 10 years to work together and not just
two."

Hrabko said he intends to carry out the vision. During his months as interim
airport director, Hrabko worked with a task force of business leaders to
identify areas of the airport that need improvement. That concept evolved
into the Airport Experience plan under Dolliole's tenure.

Lambert's largest air carrier, American Airlines, expressed confidence that
the makeover will happen. 

"We're very supportive of the plan," said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, managing
director of American Airlines' St. Louis operations. "We hope to see work
start as early as late this year."

Hrabko has been St. Louis County's director of aviation since 1980,
overseeing the growth of one of the fastest-growing general aviation
airports in the country. He has worked at the airport since 1964,
responsible for every aspect of its development. It does not have commercial
flights. 

Hrabko's annual salary at Lambert will be $165,000. Hrabko, who lives in
O'Fallon, Mo., will be required to move to the city. 

"We're looking forward to working with him," Hamm-Niebruegge said of Hrabko.
Although she is disappointed by Dolliole's departure, she said her
experience with Hrabko has been good. "We couldn't be happier with that
announcement," she said.

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